Pencil on paper study of Eugene Delacroix's 1824 work entitled "An orphan girl in the graveyard" by Robert Corkery (2004). Sketching the orphan girl was an amazing way to experience Delacroix's sensationally powerful, expressive and visually magnificent portrait. Poised as if she had seen a ghost, the beautiful orphan girl in Delacroix's painting is probably visiting her dead parents in the graveyard, and she appears to be utterly conscious of an inescapable destiny. Delacroix's mastery of immediacy was probably a massive influence on the impressionists. One must view the colour version to feel the full impact of this work. After all he is celebrated as a colourist of inestimable influence. Today we might call him a drama-queen under some circumstances, but back in his day many critics perceived his work so dramatic as to be offensive. Delacroix was greatly influenced by Rubens amongst notable others. Delacroix lived 1798-1863.

My original sketchbook containing this pencil drawing was last seen in London July 2009. Fortunately I made a copy beforehand.